- Jordan Ashburn earns XC1 National Championship
- Hard-fought XC2 class title to Angus Riordan
Phoenix Racing Honda riders Jordan Ashburn and Angus Riordan capped the AMA Grand National Cross Country season in impressive fashion this weekend, capturing prestigious national championships in the XC1 and XC2 classes, respectively, at the Buckwheat 100 GNCC, which served as the series finale. Both championships were hard-fought, as Ashburn finished the season one point ahead of title-rival Liam Draper, while Riordan used a last-round victory to break a points tie with Jhak Walker.
The only rider to never finish outside the top 10 across the 13-round series, Ashburn delivered a consistent campaign aboard his CRF450RX, recording two victories and three additional podium finishes. This was the Cookeville, Tennessee, resident's second premier-class crown (the first having come in 2022 with a different manufacturer). It was also the first for Phoenix Racing and the first for Honda since Scott Summers won in 1997.
"Getting Honda their first GNCC title in a long time and sweeping both classes is a massive accomplishment," Ashburn said. "It's crazy for all of this to come together this year. Gus and I both knew we had a shot, but so does everyone else; you have to race every round and get everything you can out of them. I had some rough races this year and some injuries throughout the season. There are days when you get hurt during practice or a race and think, 'Man, I'm done,' but you still have to make it count; I definitely think those days this year were the days that won it. A lot of people don't see how much effort is put in between each race—testing tires, suspension; it's nonstop. I don't put a lot of pressure on myself, because I perform better that way; I let things fall into place, let my riding do the talking, and just work on one race at a time."
Meanwhile, Riordan claimed the XC2 championship (his first, and Honda's first since 2016) by earning six victories and two runner-up finishes aboard his CRF250RX. In addition to his GNCC success, the Australian competed in selected rounds of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, recording 450-class overall results of 21st place and 28th place at the Southwick and Spring Creek Nationals, respectively.
"It feels really good for Honda to go 1-1 in both championships," said Angus Riordan, better known as Gus. "It's the first year on this team for Jordan and me, so it's cool to return Honda's investment in us. And it's great to get championships for David Eller, the team owner. The Phoenix Racing team operates like a family; the communication is great, and if I need to test something, they're happy to test. I feel like the CRF250RX is the best off-road bike out there. I adapted to the Honda really well, and I didn't need much testing to get comfortable on it. A lot of pressure is off my shoulders. I've been chasing this for a few years, and it feels good to finally get it done. I didn't think about the championship until about three miles to go on the final lap—that's when it hit me, and I had goosebumps the rest of the way."
"Congratulations to Jordan and Gus, as well as David Eller's entire team," added Brandon Wilson, American Honda Manager of Racing & Experiential Marketing. "Phoenix Racing's success this year—against very strong, well-funded competition—marks a historic milestone for the team and puts Honda back on top of what is arguably the most competitive off-road championship in the country. It's also a testament to the competitiveness of Honda's CRF-RX models, and to the Phoenix team's ability to prepare them for grueling conditions. It was an amazing team effort, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the seasons ahead."
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About Honda Powersports
Honda began motorcycle sales in America in 1959, and today offers a full range of Honda motorcycles, scooters, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and side-by-sides in the U.S. Innovative technology always has been a Honda trademark, showcasing pioneering engine and chassis design that has set the standard for excellence for more than 65 years. Honda also has announced plans for battery-electric powersports products. Honda Powersports products have been built in America for 45 years, and today, all Honda side-by-sides and ATVs are made in America at Honda manufacturing plants in Timmonsville, SC, and Swepsonville, NC, using domestic and globally made parts. Learn more at https://powersports.honda.com.
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